N04231:124
The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men…
The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men from coming to Christ, are discovered. : With special helps to recover God's favour. / By Thomas Hooker. ; With an abstract of the author's life. ; [Four lines from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by Green for D. Henchman, 1743
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. III. Rules to direct a Christian how to use the Word of GOD for his Evidence, or Assurance with Peace.
1THE first of these Rules teacheth to use the Word of God aright: for as thou must in all Things that concern thy Soul repair to the Word; so thou must consider thine own Uprightness by it, and see what Work is in thy Soul that is able to answer the Word, and to testify that the Work of Grace is there. And here be sure to take thy Soul at the best: Do not always pore upon the worst that is in it, nor upon thy Failings, nor that that can only accuse thee; but if there be any Thing there that may justly speak for thee, neglect not that. It is an Injustice for any Court so hear one Side and not another. The Scripture is a Text of Justice, and the Lord doth not lye at catch with his Children, but takes them at the best as Rom. 4.22. it is therefore said that Abraham ⟨p. 59⟩believed the Promise, and it was imputed to him for Righteousness. Indeed, as in Gen. 12. he had some Doubtings; but God took him at the best: And speaks this of his Faith. So Sarah is spoken of as of a gracious Woman, and of a Pattern for Women, by calling her Husband Lord; which was a Sign of Reverence to her Husband, and an humble Heart to the Lord: And yet we read that she derided the Message of the Lord by the Angel, Gen. 18.12. The Lord buries that, and only speaks of that which was to her Commendation, and so took her at her best too. Now as the Lord dealt with these, so should we with our selves: Whatsoever is found sincere and upright in us, that should we observe, as well as that which is not so; nay, that rather and before the other. If a Man should have his Cause handled in any Court of Justice after this Fashion; namely, that (there) should only be observed what is failing in the Cause, and never that that makes for it; the best Cause that is might go to the Ground: Therefore the Court will hear all read: As every Bond or Bill that shall come in, and every Matter of Agreement; briefly, every Thing: The Cry will be, Let all be read. Again, suppose a Man have a Bond or other Instrument in Court, and that the Lawyer only doth open and read the Failings in it, and that which seems to make against the Party: